Mass Merchant

Bentonville, Ark. -- Despite its interest in making a New York City debut in a new Brooklyn neighborhood shopping center, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday it was unable to agree to economic terms for a new store. Instead, developer Related Cos. struck a deal with ShopRite to open a new grocery store at the 630,000-sq.-ft. Gateway II shopping center planned for Brooklyn.

MEMPHIS — Fred's on Friday launched a holiday layaway plan featuring no fees and a down payment of only $1.

"Fred’s realizes that the current economy presents difficult challenges to its customers and Fred's wants to offer as much assistance as it can," Fred's SVP sales and marketing Dave Mueller said. "That’s why we came up with a layaway plan that — with just one dollar down and absolutely no fees — is unlike any others and will stretch shoppers’ dollars during a time when it will be most welcome."

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens announced plans to close more than half of the stores it is acquiring in its deal with USA Drug.

The company — which said in July it would purchase the mid-South drug store chain for approximately $438 million — confirmed it would close approximately 76 stores across the region. USA Drug operates 144 stores under the USA Drug, Super D Drug, May's Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse banners.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said Friday it is applauding the impending implementation of sales tax fairness in California, which stands to even the playing field between bricks-and-mortar retailers and online competitors.

Walmart unveiled its top toy list Friday morning and couldn’t resist taking a shot at Toys "R" Us which launched a toy reservation program earlier in the week.

Walmart said its layaway program and top toy offering gives parents the confidence to shop now for the toys kids want at every day low prices. And in an obvious dig at Toys "R" Us, the press release for Walmart’s top 20 toys declared, "no reservations required: America’s largest toy seller’s hassle-free layaway program begins this Sunday."

With shoppers making fewer trips and impulse purchases, the need to influence them earlier and more frequently in the purchase decision-making cycle is critical for sales success. To accomplish this, consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers and manufacturers are increasingly using cooperative advertising and promotion programs that target shoppers at home when they are most likely to be planning shopping trips and creating lists. As retailers, understanding what your competition is planning for in-home is just as essential to staying competitive as what’s happening in-store.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart on Friday announced its Top 20 Toy List for the upcoming holidays and said the items are available now at Walmart stores in time for the retailer's layaway program, which launches this Sunday. In a social media tie-in, customers who “like” their local Walmart store's Facebook page can begin using the service immediately.

Well paid teachers who receive generous benefits are on strike in Chicago and reminding Walmart why organized labor is a bigger threat to its business than any competitor.